Clasp



1935- M. D. SCHWARTZ ET AL 1,988,920 7 CLASP Filed Jan. 9, 1934.

nn-llum 75 mu-1m: \KE 25 7? 25 W' ZO Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES CLASP Meyer D. Schwartz and Benjamin West Haven, Conn.

Application January 9,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps, and more particularly to clasps for 001- lars,'neckties, and other articles of personal wear.

One object of this invention is to provide aclasp embodying both neatness in appearance and security of grip. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a clasp combining durability with ease of operation in difficult locations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clasp having manually-operablemeans for positively moving the gripping-means of the clasp into gripping position, thegripping-means being adapted to be opened without the necessity of actuating the, manually-operable means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved clasp formed of simple elements, readily manufactured and readily assembled to produce an attractive; durable, efiicient clasp at minimum cost.

With the above and other objects in View, this invention includes the improvedfeatures, parts and combinations of parts disclosed in the following description, appended claims and, accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one way of carrying out the invention is shown'for illustrative purposes: I v

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clasp made in accordance with this invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with th gripping-members occupying various non-gripping positions;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a clasp made in accordance with this invention, with the gripping-member at the right end thereof occupyingthe same position as the right-end gripping-mnember in Fig. 2, and with the left-end gripping.- member' thereof occupying the position of the left-end gripping-member in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a left-end view of the left end of the clasp shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a perspective'view of the rear bar-mam berof the clasp;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the 'frontbarmember of the clasp; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clip or clamp for securing the two bars of the clasp together; and 10 is a perspective view of'one of the locking leversf The rear bar-member 11' is formed as shown" Kaplan,

1934, Serial No. 705,865

(Cl. 24-81) V with the pairs of end-bifurcations 12 and 13 spaced apart by end-slots 14 and 15. The endbifurcations 12 and 13 are provided with pairs of oppositely-extending pivots or pintles 16 and 17. Adjacent its center, the rear bar-member 11 is 5 also provided with four locating-lugs 18.

Locking-levers 19, preferably formed of sheetmetal, have-pivot-ears 20, each provided With a pivot-opening 21, a gripping-finger 22 and a manually-operable member 23. levers 19 being placed in assembled position, the pivot-ears 20 are somewhat further apart than they are in their final positiomin order to enable them to be placed over the oppositely-extending pivots 16 of the rear bar 11. bearings 21 are brought into alignment with pivotsl6 and 17, the pair of cars 20 on each lockinglever 19 are bent toward each other to final position, to hold the locking-levers 19 permanently and properly in pivoted position.

The front bar-member 24 formed as shown in Fig. 8, is brought into position against the 'rear bar 11 and secured thereto by passing the clip or clamp 25 (Fig. 9) over the front and rear barmembers and bending the ends 26 thereof (Fig. 2 6) to firmly lock the front and rear bar-members 24 and 11 together, with the sides of the clamp 25 passing between and. being positioned by the positioning-lugs 18. The front and rear bar-members 24 and 11 connected together by the 3 clamp 25, may be called a frame. j

The locking-lever 19, shown at the left end of Fig. 3, is in its openmost position. The locking-lever 19, shown at the right .end of Fig. 3, is in the position when the gripping-finger 22 35 first contacts with the adjacent surface 27 of the arm 28. As the manually-operable member 23 (right end of Fig. 3) is swung anti-clockwise, it causes the gripping finger22 to ride to the right 40 along the adjacent surface 27 with sufiicient force to causethe arms 28 and 29 to spring apart suiiiciently to permit the gripping-finger, 22 to travel past the plane of dead center indicated by the dotted line A which extends through the center of the pivot 17 and at right angles to the portion of the adjacent surface 27 which itintersects.

As the manually-operable member 23 moves. further toward the arm 29, the gripping-finger 22 continues to ride along the adjacent surface 27 of the arm 28, being aided thereby by the spring action between the arms 28 and 29 until the gripping-finger 22 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, with the manually-operable Prior to the locking- 10 After the pivot- 15.

member 23 engaged against the rear of the arm 29.

The locking-lever at the left end of Figs. 2 and 3 is similarly actuated (but in the opposite direction) to bring it in final position between the arms 30 and 31.

The clasp shown in the drawing can be applied to the opposite ends of a collar by first moving one end of the collar in between the two arms 30 and 31, and then swinging the locking-lever 19 clockwise to the gripping position indicated at the left end of Fig. 2. In like manner, the other end of the collar can be inserted between the arms 28 and 29, whereupon the locking-lever can be swung anti-clockwise to bring it into the gripping position shown at the right of Fig. 2.

When it is desired to detach the clasp from the collar, it is only necessary to grasp the collar ends and force them endwise toward each other, whereupon the gripping-fingers 22 are forced to swing inwardly toward each other until they reach some such position as indicated at the right and left ends of Fig. 3.

Of course, if desired, instead of thrusting edgewise upon the collar ends to open the lockinglevers of the clasp, this can be done by grasping themanually-operable members 23 and. swinging them in the proper direction to move the fingers 22 to non-gripping position.

For clearness, the collar ends have not been shown in the drawing inasmuch as the mode of gripping. collars is old and well known in the art, and to show the same in the drawing would somewhat obscure the features of applicants construction.

While applicants state that the gripping-fingers 22 move or ride along the surfaces 27, it is to be understood that this actual contact with surfaces 2'7 only takes place when the claspmember is actuated without any fabric actually being engaged by the gripping-fingers. When fabric actually comes between the gripping-fingers and the surfaces 27, the fabric causes an increased stress upon the arms 28, 29, 30 and 31, to spring the ends of the gripping-fingers away from actual contact with the surfaces 27. It will be appreciated in fact, that if the clasp were to be used with sufiiciently-heavy fabric, or if the pairs of arms 28, 29 and 30, 31 were made to have less elasticity, it could operate in the same practical manner as concerns the clasp herein described, even if the gripping-fingers 22 do not atany time actually contact with the adjacent surfaces 2'7 of the arms 28, 29, 30 and 31, as will beobvious, and such expressions as have been used in the claims to indicate this contact of the gripping-fingers with theadjacent surfaces of arms 28 and 30 are used for brevity and clearness, and are, therefore, intended to have a broader meaning than necessarily having actual metal-to-metal contact between the grippingfingers and the adjacent surfaces of the arms 28 and 30.

The invention may be carried out in other specific Ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appened claims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

l A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having oppositely-extending to said adjacent pairs of complementary, spaced-apart, free arms; and two locking-levers, each pivoted intermediate its ends to one arm of each of said pairs of arms to provide a manually-operable member and a gripping finger; the other arm of each pair of arms having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping finger, and said adjacent surface, or fabric thereon, being directly engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an arc extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces; each of the manually-operable members being adapted to abut against the arm to which it is pivoted and inwardly of its pivot, when the corresponding gripping-finger is engaged against said adjacent surface, or fabric thereon, at a location outwardly of said plane.

2. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having oppositely-extending pairs of complementary, spaced-apart, free arms, one arm of each of said pairs of arms having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and two locking-levers, each having a pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to a pair of bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a gripping-finger extending between a pair of bifurcations; the other arm of each pair of arms having a surface adjacent and directly-opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an arc extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed .to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces. 3. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having oppositely-extending pairs of complementary, spaced-apart, free arms, one arm of each of said pairs of arms having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and two locking-levers, each having a pair of pivotears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to a pair of bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a gripping-finger extending between a pair of bifurcations; the other arm of each pair of arms having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an are extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed'to. constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces; each of the manually-operable members being adapted to abut against the arm to which it is pivoted and inwardly of its pivot, when the corresponding gripping-finger is engaged against said adjacent surface, or fabric thereon, at a location outwardly of said plane.

4. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: 'a frame having oppositely-extending pairs of complementary, spaced-apart, free arms, one arm of each of said pairs of arms having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and two locking-levers, each having a pair of pivotears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to the outside of a pair of bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a gripping-finger extending between a pair of bifurcations; the other arm of each pair of arms having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an arc extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces.

5. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having oppositely-extending pairs of complementary, spaced-apart, free arms, one arm of each of said pairs of arms having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and two locking-levers, each formed of sheet-metal and having a pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to' a pair of bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a gripping-finger extending between a pair of bifurcations; the other arm of each pair of arms having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an are extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces.

6. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having complementary, spacedapart, free arms; one arm having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and a locking-lever having a pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to said bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a gripping-finger extending between said bifurcations; the other arm having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an are extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces.

7. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having complementary, spacedapart, free arms; one arm having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and a locking-lever having a pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are. pivoted to said bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member,and a gripping-fingerextending between said bifurcations; the other arm having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an are extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces; adapted to abut against the arm to which it is pivoted and inwardly of its pivot, when the gripping-finger is engaged against said adjacent surface at a location outwardly of said plane.

8. A clasp for articles of personal wear including: a frame having complementary, spacedapart, free arms; one arm having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and a locking-lever having a pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot-ears are pivoted to the outside of said bifurcations to provide a manuallyoperable member, and a gripping-finger extending between said bifurcations; the other arm having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an arc extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said gripping-fingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces.

9. A clasp for articles of personal Wear including: a frame having complementary, spacedapart, free arms; one arm having a pair of spaced-apart free end-bifurcations; and a locking-lever formed of sheet-metal and havinga pair of pivot-ears intermediate its ends, which pivot ears are pivoted to said bifurcations to provide a manually-operable member, and a grippingfinger extending between said bifurcations; the other arm having a surface adjacent and directly opposite a gripping-finger, and said adjacent surface being engageable with said gripping-finger while the latter is being swung through an arc extending on opposite sides of a plane passing longitudinally through said pivot and at right angles to said adjacent surface, said grippingfingers being designed and constructed to constitute means, and the only means, for clamping fabric against said adjacent surfaces.

MEYER D. SCHWARTZ. BENJAMIN KAPLAN.

the manually-operable member being 

